Kohler products

13255 Views 20 Replies 12 Participants Last post by The Coastal Craftsman, Dec 10, 2013

J.C.

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2013

Anyone have experience with Kohler toilets? I'm thinking of getting one and I see they have 1.6gpf and 1.28gpf versions of the same toilet. Here's the ones I'm looking at Memoirs 1.28gpf and Memoirs 1.6gpf Are either of these any good?

Also, how about faucets? Does Kohler make good faucets? Here's the sink faucet I'm looking at Memoirs and the matching Memoirs tub/shower

Thanks for any feedback.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

The Coastal Craftsman

· #2 · Dec 8, 2013

I'm not a massive fan for a couple of reasons one of which they fixed recently though. I installed 4 this month and noticed every single one had a different RO dimension. The one I put in on Wednesday was a 12" RO but I had to remove a chunk of qtr round on the baseboard to get it to fit. Another one that was a 12" RO had a 3-4" gap in exactly the same situation. Just make sure you measure the toilets true rough in and clearances before installation.

The other issue was which they seem to have fixed was the bolts that you mount the cistern to the pan. You used to have to strip the cistern down and silicone the bolts and rubber washer as water would drip from the threads. They have now redesigned the bolts so this is not needed. They now have bolts with large black plastic heads instead of brass bolts. Vast improvement.

Other than that they are good toilets.

J.C.

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 8, 2013

Did you use the 1.28gpf or 1.6gpf toilets? They flush good?

The Coastal Craftsman

· #4 · Dec 8, 2013

All the ones I installed are the 1.6gpf units. They only just about get rid of stuff unless they are paper happy customers. I doubt I would risk the 1.2's

Reactions: 1

dkillianjr

· #5 · Dec 8, 2013

J.C. said:
Did you use the 1.28gpf or 1.6gpf toilets? They flush good?

Hey J.C.,

I use kohler toilets and fixtures on a ton of my jobs. I don't think I've ever had a call back on either. The only issue I've ever had was a kohler toilet that had some glazing in the bowl over a couple water holes, but that was quickly taken care of by my supplier.

I always stick with the 1.6 All of the 1.28 I have seen really didn't clean the bowl very well compared to the 1.6

I've only ever installed three 1.28 kohlers. All for one customer that insisted. I didn't like the flush at all. I recommend the 1.6

Dave

Reactions: 2

MarkJames

· #6 · Dec 8, 2013

It's a good question as different models of every manufacturer perform differently.

Don't have any firsthand experience using that one, but we have the Wellworth 1.6's, both round and elongated bowls. They all flush quietly and never a clog. As for residual streaking of the bowl, the elongated is worse. Round is basically fine.

I know folks are going say "get a Toto", but they're like any other toilet, from what I've seen. But I'll install them if they want them.

Reactions: 1

dsconstructs

· #7 · Dec 8, 2013

I've installed some of the Memoirs and lots of the Wellworth. Both decent operating toilets that haven't disappointed like a number of other gravity flush toilets do. To note, I've also not yet trusted trying less than 1.6 gpf for either of those.
I'm picky about toilet function over style. Anytime I can, I talk people into Gerber Ultra Flush, but always happy enough with the Kohler Class Five flush tech.
At least with the Memoirs there's added style when picking other matching fixtures like you're considering. I've used them for matching with the sinks and pedestals otherwise just the Wellworth in other situations.

Reactions: 1

huggytree

· #8 · Dec 8, 2013

I install 90% Kohler on my jobs...I always spec out the 1.6 gallon flushers....1.2'8s have been known by drain cleaners to not wash all the poop down with cast iron piping

I believe Kohler makes the best quality product...their engineering is sometimes mediocre though....I chose Kohler 1st and Moen 2nd

I also like Toto Toilets, but all of them are now 1.28...I have (3) different Toto toilets in my home and am very please will all of them

CarpenterSFO

· #9 · Dec 8, 2013

Only 1.28 allowed here; we've installed a bunch of Kohlers, and they've been fine. The clogging/not flushing issues seem to have been fixed by all the manufacturers. They have less wetted surface, though, and they don't always get the bowl streak-free without an extra flush. I've never gotten a customer complain about them.

Eaglei

· #10 · Dec 9, 2013

I stopped using kohler after a number of their toilets had an issue with the glazing covering all and i mean all the little holes that help clean the toilet as it's being flushed . Their quality control needs a wake up call as does their customer service . Kohler isn't what they used to be and apparently they don't care .

Reactions: 2

rrk

· #11 · Dec 9, 2013

Eaglei said:
I stopped using kohler after a number of their toilets had an issue with the glazing covering all and i mean all the little holes that help clean the toilet as it's being flushed . Their quality control needs a wake up call as does their customer service . Kohler isn't what they used to be and apparently they don't care .

They started to have quality control problems years ago when they went to automated spraying on their fixtures, Especially the cast iron sinks. A Kohler sales manager said they saved tons of money by eliminating a guy/guys who checks coverage and touches up anything needed.

Don't use Kohler anymore but never had problems with toilets that had a tall tank. Tons of problems with the 1 piece toilets.

I do work in a complex 3 years old where most of the toilets have been replaced and 75% of the shower valves had to be rebuilt. Kohler 1 piece toilets and Kohler Stillness? shower valves. The rebuild kit probably cost more than the valve.

The Coastal Craftsman

· #12 · Dec 9, 2013

Eaglei said:
I stopped using kohler after a number of their toilets had an issue with the glazing covering all and i mean all the little holes that help clean the toilet as it's being flushed . Their quality control needs a wake up call as does their customer service . Kohler isn't what they used to be and apparently they don't care .

Yeah I should have added worst customer service on the planet. They are up there with wobble light for worst service for sure. Their warranty is also piss poor for a brand in their price range of products.

rrk

· #13 · Dec 9, 2013

BCConstruction said:
Yeah I should have added worst customer service on the planet. They are up there with wobble light for worst service for sure. Their warranty is also piss poor for a brand in their price range of products.

They just don't seem to care, you need to stand on your head to get them to honor the warranty. My supplier just replaces the item and they fight with them, but someone still has to pay to have it replaced.

Live_oak

· #14 · Dec 9, 2013

I spec Kohler a lot. I've never had the poor customer service indicated by some of you. They have had no issues sending out replacement cartridges or handles or any number of parts to the end user.

For the toilets, I personally put 2 of the Kohler Cimmaron 1.2 in my house. They have a 10 MAP rating, which I was looking for. One works perfectly. One is more challenged by the fact that the primary user likes a lot of paper, and it's a further distance from where the 4" pipe leaves the house. My cousin the plumber says that if the home has a 3", the 1.2 work just fine.

huggytree

· #15 · Dec 9, 2013

BCConstruction said:
Yeah I should have added worst customer service on the planet. They are up there with wobble light for worst service for sure. Their warranty is also piss poor for a brand in their price range of products.

ive never had a warranty issue at all...I get all the parts I need in a couple of days...also when I call them they answer quickly

ive sat on the phone for 45 minutes for Grohe....now that's bad service

never more than 2-5 minutes for Kohler...typically its answered in less than 1...

I think Kohler has some of the best customer service.....I probably use $150,000 worth of Kohler a year

The Coastal Craftsman

· #16 · Dec 9, 2013

huggytree said:
ive never had a warranty issue at all...I get all the parts I need in a couple of days...also when I call them they answer quickly

ive sat on the phone for 45 minutes for Grohe....now that's bad service

never more than 2-5 minutes for Kohler...typically its answered in less than 1...

I think Kohler has some of the best customer service.....I probably use $150,000 worth of Kohler a year

The times I had to call them for warranty issues they never once wanted to help out with labor even though the issues were caused by them. As an example the most recent was a bathtub where the fiberglass was delaminating from the acrylic top layer. They wouldn't even send rep to look at it and wanted to send my local competition round to look at it! So it was basically upto a local guy I bid against if they will even replace the tub. Not just that but the first thing out of this guys mouth was we only cover replacement of faulty product and the replacement tile, backer, thinset, grout, drywall, paint, plumbing and labor is not out problem.

So why's that my problem! Simple thing now is I tell customers to steer clear from kohler. Hey but I will say when I order parts I have had to pay for because it was not covered under warranty they get them sent out in under a week.

rrk

· #17 · Dec 10, 2013

I wonder if could be a regional thing like a regional sales manager or something. My local supplier says the guy he calls is fairly local, and he is the one who is dragging his feet with replacement items/issues

Tom M

· #18 · Dec 10, 2013

The Cimarron is a great bowl.

Reactions: 1

KillerToiletSpider

· #19 · Dec 10, 2013

I vastly prefer Toto, Duravit, or Porcher as far was water closets are concerned.

huggytree

· #20 · Dec 10, 2013

BCConstruction said:
The times I had to call them for warranty issues they never once wanted to help out with labor even though the issues were caused by them. As an example the most recent was a bathtub where the fiberglass was delaminating from the acrylic top layer. They wouldn't even send rep to look at it and wanted to send my local competition round to look at it! So it was basically upto a local guy I bid against if they will even replace the tub. Not just that but the first thing out of this guys mouth was we only cover replacement of faulty product and the replacement tile, backer, thinset, grout, drywall, paint, plumbing and labor is not out problem.

So why's that my problem! Simple thing now is I tell customers to steer clear from kohler. Hey but I will say when I order parts I have had to pay for because it was not covered under warranty they get them sent out in under a week.

I had a cast iron WP tub that was 600lbs...it didn't come in a crate, just a cardboard box (thanks Kohler)....there was no way to carry this thing to the 2nd floor...the sides were open and had rubber hoses all over it just silicones to the sides....we attempted to carry it with 4 men and tore off 3 hoses...we stopped....I hired a moving crew for $500 and they had to crate it up to move it to the 2nd floor....even inside a crate it still got 1 more hose broke off...

Kohler handled the whole repair for free.....even though it was my fault...I later found out from the repair guy that he repairs almost every one of these....kohler recommends using a crane to get them in the 2nd floor......problem is without a crate id assume it would still get damaged

it goes back to Kohlers engineering....sometimes=very poor

never once had a issue with kohlers warranties

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